In-Vehicle Infotainment goes MeeGo

a staff writer, 23rd July 2010

Are you sick and tired of your passive and outdated digital dashboard? Have you ever wanted to customize or replace your traditional in-vehicle entertainment system?

Well, soon you'll be able to with Linux-based MeeGo.

So say adieu to that boring control panel and get ready for rear-seat entertainment, advanced navigation, web surfing, social networking and hands-free interaction.

Because the future of In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) is all about choice.

That's why the GENIVI Alliance - which includes industry heavyweights such as BMW and GM - has selected the open source MeeGo platform to power its next generation of In-Vehicle Infotainment.

Indeed, according to Jim Zemlin of the Linux Foundation, IVI is a "rapidly growing" segment that includes navigation, entertainment, location-based services, as well as wireless connectivity to devices, car networks and broadband networks.

"MeeGo has been built from the ground up [by Intel and Nokia] for these types of applications," said Zemlin.

"And because MeeGo is truly an open platform, the work GENIVI will do to extend the platform can benefit the project and all who use it."

Of course, the mobile MeeGo operating system can also be found on a wide range of other devices, including smartphones, netbooks, tablets and connected TVs.

An initial release of the quickly-evolving platform can be downloaded here.